Apparatus for playing parlor games



Sept. 1851923. IAH

E. KENT' APPARATUS FOR PLAYING PARLOR GAMES Filed Feb. 15, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 1 TII Sept 18 i923.

E. KENT AFPARATUS Fon PLAYING PARLOR GAMES Filed Feb. l5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. is, 1923.

.sra-rss EDWARD KENnforLoNDon, ENGLAND.

Henares-ron :presuncrnnnon canins.

- Application 'iledfehruary 15, 1922; Serial 110.5365764.

.The A `object 0f this invention is t0 10011- l struct an apparatus `for playing a parlor salue with balls .Such apmra-tiisonslstns ymainly of a A'series ofstalls into oneof which Y a player may endeavour tolpass a bafll, some fG `having a sloping top -Withpartition `Walls concealed mechanism comprising a movable block -Worlzed by ,alever iand actuated by an opponent whereby such .opponent can at- ;tempt Ato and sometimes may .divert the -ball from passing into the stalls or lto retain them in thel stalls, inclined planes leading from the stalls to a ITO-W 0f cups vor cavities into which the bal-l Will-roll if allowed to pass out of fthe stall, the scoring beingfet- `ected .fby either player `Who obtains his lob- `ect. 'l The invention-Will be ful-ly understood `from the following description aided -by `the annexed drawings 'f inwhich- Figure l is a Vlixart .sectionallside `eleva-- tion of the apparatus.

` Figure 2 is `an end vieiv of lthe apparaillus. Y

Figure f3 is afplan .of the apparatus.

Figures 4 and 5 `.perspective elevations 'of movablerblock either kindbeing used ibut Inot "both in Vone apparatus.

of theapparatus having appliances 4attached .thereto by which blind -people can play the game.

' 'il construct a :base A on ywhich are positioned at right angles thereto two Walls B, B such Walls B,`B at near ftheir upper edges.

havingthe scoring :board-markings C and the sliding yindicators l), D.

"On the outside ofeach wall B, B is positioned a box E having a"` sloping or 'flat Vshelf F at the upper part and a bottom ll forming anythree `compartments `or stalls '3, l,;'8, such partition Walls leading through .a slotI cutfin each Wall B -to the other 'side of the Wall B vvliere=` they are-.covered by a -t'op `L whichfextends `right...across the base .A Eand have side Walls-to enclose them.

The partitionivalls on-the inside iaces ','OfthefwallfB aremerelyfangled strips .andy

Figure is a side elevation Ofonehalt fder .the top L but at a short distance below,

the sloping platform ending to Aform a guide :with the walls B1, B for the blocks N and such `platform has sides S, S which sides are secured to it and the base A.

These blocks N are carried .by strips l riding in pieces U, U secured to the base, such pieces U, Ualso formingstops to .limit `the v.movement `of `'the blocks N the blocks N being of such a length that at any part otfheir movement 4they are under the stalls 3, j 8.

These blocks N, N are respectivelypivot- .ally and loosely connected as at 'V to levers lV, WV which are 4positionedbetween the `base A and sloping platform R and ditch l) and are pivoted at X, X to the base A their free ends-extending outside the vWalls B, VB which extensions form handles Vby which they can be manipulated in playing the game.

The block N is provided with a sloping top and ihas acsloping recess Y'cut Vin the Vcentre oi the top part, `see Figure 4.

As will be understood there are two sets J such playwill be understood from the fold l .lowing -rules `of fthe game.

flfllhefgame-is played by `tivo persons who, rduring play, shall remain'on .opposite sides yof ,the table `with the board :between them. l a i 2. If desired, lots shouldbeQdraWnas `to Which yplayer sha-ll ,fbe the rfirst .to launch the eight ballsfand-the-Winner of the draw shall decide at .which sideof vthe tablehe -Will play.

Ati-.the .end foffeach `game `either .player Vmay irequirehis opponentto change places at the tablewvithout the board.

3.-The playing oi a break consists in the altering .the position of ilaunchingiof eight balls by Oneplayer, one

defender, who at the neXt breakzube-comes4 the bowler, and so on alternately.

5. Of the eight balls seven are of one` colour (say white) .which are played first, and one of another colour (say red) which must be played last in the break.

` 6. Should the red ball be played out of its proper turn the bowler shall not score for that occasion. But'the defender shall add three points to his own score no matter where the ball may have lodged. The red ball shall then be takenfback bythe bowler who shall play it again in its proper turn. 7. The bowler, in launching a ball, puts it, athis own discretion, into one of the stalls at his own end (marked 3, 1, 8) without allowing his opponent to see it. The ball may then run into one ofthe stalls in front of his own screen marked with a corresponding number, in which case the bowler will `the'middle of the board.

count that numberto his score. p

8. But it is defenders business to-divert V,the ball so played from reaching its intend- 'ed destination. Assuming, for instance, that defender surmises that his opponent is aiming at No. 8 stall, defender will place the pointer of the lever (moving it sideways) opposite the No. 8 at his own end of the board. If the surmise is correct, if bowler has aimed at No. 8, his ball'will fall through the opening of a concealed trap and roll into The ball so dropped will eventually lodge in one of the numbered cups inthe ditch and defender will count to his score as many points as are markedagainst that cup.

Note 1. The lever can open anyone of the three stal-ls, but only one at a time."-

Note 2. After player has made a successful shot his ball remains shut up in the stall. It can only be released by defender setting his own lever to point to its 'nuin ber corresponding with the number of the stall in which the ball is shut up.l

9. Defender, inthe course of the game, willV alter the position of his lever at his own discretion, or leave it unaltered, or alter it and replace it, and reasonable time shall be allowed for his so doing. `But he shall not touch his lever when his opponent ison the point of launching a ball. Y (See latter partpf rule 10.) p

10. It shall be defenders duty to gather up each ball as it is played. He will score his own vp'ointsand alter, or feign to alter, the position of his lever before another ball 1 `is played, and he shall be allowed what he 'fconsiders Vto be reasonable time for these several duties. l' 11. Twoof the cups inthe vditch are marked Withthe number 2, Should a white ball lodge in either of these cups, defender will add two to his score as .above mentioned and he will have an additional advantage. Ile will say to bowler: Your No. 3 stall is barred against your next ball,'or No. 3 barred (which indicates that the bowler must launch his next ball into his No. 1 or No. 8 stall). If, in spite of this warning, bowler shouldplay into his No. 3 stall he shall not score for that ball, but defender shall ,himself score three points. The playing of that ball shall count as part of bowlers break. Y

12.l If the last ball (the red one) should lodge in either of the cups marked No. 2 the `defender obviously'cannot givev the warning can. It may, of course be a matter of finesse on de-fenders part to omit the warning and open the No. 3 tra-p in the usual way.

14. The game is won by the player who Vfirst scores 100 points. Y

15. Neither player shall ask his opponent what action `he purposes to takein regard either to launching the balls or placing the lever. Nor may either player make any verbal statement as to his own intentionin these matters. But either player may nesse by making a misleading action (such as ostentatiously altering the lever'and cautiously replacing it, etc.) beforey theflaunching of a ball by bowlerA 16. In the event of a ball on the sloping boards failing by mischance to lodge inone of the cups in the ditch the.

ball shall be Vrecovered by the bowler'and played again into the stall in which4 it had last been placed, anddefender shall not alter his lever from itslast position. Defender will then score of necessity.

Instead of the block N having a recess Y in the middle the recess may be on the `*outside portions of the top as at Figure 5, in

son after play .can feelandV catch hold of play-the game I YBO the bard and move same lfor it to rest upon A" the ball lin one of the cups/and, by'moving the handalong the bar J, he can feel the ball and "ascertain the valueof the ball and the .bar may; be Vprovidedwvith Braille orV other indications lay-Which the blind player `canascertain the value of the ball.

Instead ofv employing tivo sets of appliances on one boardI may employ only one in Whichcase provide. aV low Wall or equivalent next to the ditch P to prevent the ballsrolling off the' apparatus. j

VAs will be understood the stalls and handles of the levers are screened from the observation of` an opponent.

llVhat I do claim as .myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is e 1. An Vapparatus for p-laying a parlor game with balls, consisting of'a. base, a row of cups arranged transversely across said base, a sloping platform abutting said row 1 of'cups at its loiver end, a transversely slotted vvallrspaced from the upper end of said platform, a receptacle on the rear of said Wall, partitions dividing said receptacle into channels and extending through said `slot to form stalls, a stop in front of said stalls, a bottom for said stalls formed of a horizontally -movable block, and a lever connected at one end to said blocks and operable Y from the opposite end of said base.

2Q An apparatus Zfor playing a parlor game with balls, consisting of-abase, a row of cups arranged transversely across said base, a sloping platform abutting said ron7 of cups at its ,lower end, a transversely slotted Wall vspaced from the upper end of said platform,`

Va receptacle on the rear of said Wall,'pare titions dividing said receptacle into channels and extending.l through said slot to form stalls, a stop in front of said stalls, a bottom for said stalls formed of a horizontally movable block, a leverconnectedV at one end to said blocks and operable from the opposite end of said base, said blocks having channels therein. Y

3. An appara-tus for playing a parlor game Withballs, consisting of a base, cups arranged transversely of said base, a course consisting of sloping platforms adapted to Y directV balls to said cups, a transverselyr slotted vertical 4Walha part of saidcourse ly v ing behind saidv Wall and a partrrconsisting Vof,movablerblockslying adjacent the vertical Wall on the sideatljac'ent said cups,

wvith balls, consisting of a base having a plurality of cups arranged transversely thereof, an upright Wall secured to the base andspaced from said cups, a plurality of courses leadingfrom said Wall to said cups, means for concealing a section of` said courses,'means operable from the end of the base opposite said Wall Jfor selectively controlling a `portion of one of the concealed sections of the course so that a ball played may be diverted from its intended course.

5. An apparatus for playing a game with balls, consisting of a base having a row of cups thereacross, a vertical Wall attached to said base and spaced from said cups, an inclined platform extending from said goal to a position spaced from said Wall, means for selectively directing a played ball along 'a predetermined course leading toV one of said cups, a movable member betweensaid wall and platform, means on said member for diverting under certain conditions the predetermined" course of a played ball, and means for manipulating said movable memllger controlled from the opposite end of said 6. An apparatus for playing a game with balls, comprising a plurality of courses including an inclined surface with cups at one end thereof, said courses being concealed at the opposite end, channels formed in the concealed parts of said courses, stops in front of said channels, and means operable from the side of the apparatus opposite the channels to divert a played ball from its intended course and against one of said stops.V y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of Vtvvo subscribing Witnesses. Y

` EDWARD KENT.

W'itnesses:

W. BROWN, H. MAYKnLs. 

